Agitating mechanism.



1 1. IQKHHM. -Aemmws wrcnmmsw. l -Amlmou msn fm. 2o, 1mm. Lsg hunted Mm., M1916. i

ENFER @Trad PANT JOHN J. TOKHEIM, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

AGITATING MECHANISM.

Application led February 20, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. TorrrrEIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at -Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and One. of the objects of the invention is the provision of an agitating mechanismwhich is collapsible or foldable so as to be readily passed through a relatively small opening in the top of the tank, and whereby the agitator may open up or expand when in the tank.

It is also withinthe scope of the invention to provide an apparatus of the character indicated, which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, and which is convenient, practicall and eicient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the cornbination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter def scribed and claimed, it being nnderstood that changes inthe precise embodlment of the 1nvention herein disclosed can be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ThefI invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, wherein-v y Figure 1 is a fragmental view of the apparatus, parts being brokenaway. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, parts being broken away.

In carrying out the invention, there is employed a suitable tank'l, constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material, andl preferably of cylindrical form, and the tank 1 has an inverted conical bottom 2, and a top 3 which iS preferably Hat. IThe tank 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, i916.

Serial No. 9,720.

that the tank may be employed for mixing paints, chemicals, or for other purposes for whlch the present apparatus is adapted. The top'or upper end 3 of the tank 1 is provided wlth an opening 4., which need not be of large diameter, and the cap or plate 5 is bolted upon the top of the tank over the opening 4 to close the same, and serves as a means for carrying the agitating mechanism and pipes which are connected to the tank, whereby the-agitating mechanism and pipes will be conveniently and effectively connected to the tank.

An upright suction pipe G is disposed axially within the tank 1. and passes through an upset boss 7 provided upon the cap 5, the lower end of the suction pipe 6 being seated against the apex of the bottom 2. which forms the lowermost portion of the bottom toward which the sediment or precipitate setttles. The pipe 6 is provided with lateral inlet apertures 8 adjacent the, lower end through which the sediment may be drawn from the apical portion of the bottom 2 into the pipe 6, when it is desired to remove the sediment from the tank. A second upright suction pipe 9 passes through the cap or plate 5 and depends within the tank, but the lower end of the suction pipe 9 is spaced considerably above the lower end of the suction pipe 6, or is approximately in the plane of the lower end of the body or cylindrical portion of the tank, whereby the pipe 9 may be employed for drawing out the contents of the tank above the sediment, or in other words, for drawing of the clear portion of the liquid or semi-liquid contents of the tank. An inlet pipe 10 is connected to the cap 5 for supplying or delivering the liquid or semi-lio|uid into the tank, and a vent pipe 11 is also connected to the cap 5 for permitting the ingress or egress .of air or gas therethrough, when necessary.

The agitating mechanism includes a tubular shaft 12 which is journaled for rotation upon the suction pipe 6 and whose upper end is journaled within the upset boss 7 of the cap 5. The shaft 12 is thus held upright and mounted for rotation in a most desirable manner within the tank, a casting 13 being secured or clamped upon the lower end portion of the shaft 12 and it seats upon a spider or star-shaped collar 14 secured upon the lower end portion of the suction pipe 6. The casting or sleeve 13 einbraces the pipe 6 to assist in journaling the shaft 12 upon the pipe G and above the botplace. The spider or star-shaped collar 14 J although it may seat upon the bottom 2 of the tank, enablesthe sediment to pass between the spider or collar 14 and the bottom of the tank when gravitating to the lower end of the pipe G.

The foldable or collapsible agitator comprises arms 15 which are pivoted or fulcrumed to the casting or sleeve 13 and diverge upwardly to work upon the conical bottom 2 0f the tank. In order to pivot the agitator arms 15 to the casting 13, the casting is provided with ears 16 and the adjacent or lower ends of the arms 15 are provided with eyes 17 pivoted between theears 16 by means of pins or rivets 18. Thus, the arms 15 are adapted to be swung vertically, or about horizontal axes to and from the axis of the shaft 12. Coiled scrapers 19 surround the arms 15 and are terminally secured thereto to be carried thereby, and the Scrapers 19 are adapted to rest upon or bear against the bottom 2.

The means for actuating the agitator embodies a spur gear 20 keyed V0r otherwise secured upon the upper end portion of the agitator shaft 12 adjacent the cap 5, and

intermeshing with a spur gear 21. The spur gear 21 is mounted in place adjacent the gear 20, and to this end, the gear 20 has an upstanding boss 22 journaled within an aperture 23 formed in the cap 5, and the gear 21 has a second boss 24 depending therefrom and journaled through the central aperture of a dropped spider 25 having its ends or arms bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the cap or plate 5. The gear 21 is thus supported by spider 25, and the bosses of the gear 21 being journaled to the cap 5 and spider 25 will enable the gear 2l to rotate properly.

An upstanding pipe 27 has its lower end threaded or otherwise engaged within the aperture 23 of the cap 5, the pipe 27 being particularly useful when the tank is embedded in the ground, since the pipe 21 may extend to or above the surface of the ground to allow an actuating shaft 28 to be inserted downwardly therein. The upper end of the actuatin shaft 28 has a crank 29 to enable theI shaft 28 to be manually rotated, although the shaft 28 may be rotated mechanically if desired, the lower end of the shaft 28 being squared and provided with la non-circular portion 30 which is engageable into the square or non-circular bore or aperture 26 of the gear 21. The actuating shaft 28 may be lifted out of the pipe 27,

4 when not in use, and the upper end of the pipe 27 may be closed by a cap 31, which is seen removed in Fig. 1, and which when applied to the pipe 27 will close the same to prevent the escape of vapor from the tank.

In operation, supposing the tank to contain the liquid or semi-liquid to be agitated, when the cap 31 is removed from the pipe 27, the actuating shaft 28 may be dropped into the pipe 27 so as to engage the gear 21, and then'by rotating the shaft 28, the agitator shaft 12 will be rotated, which will carry the agitator arms 15 around therewith. It is to be noted that the agitator shaft 12 is carried by the clean out suction pipe 6, and that when the shaft 12 is rotated, the centrifugal action of the arms 15 will force them downwardly against the bottom 2, to facilitate the scraping action of the Scrapers 19 against the bottom. The faster the shaft 12 is rotated, the greater will be the pressure of the agitator arms against the bottom of the tank. In this manner, the sediment which precipitates onto the bottom of the tank, is loosened, and will'be directed toward the apex or lowest point of the bottom. Then, when it is desired to remove the sediment, the same may be pumped out through the pipe 6, as will be obvious whereas the clear contents of the tank may be pumped out through the suction pipe 9. It is also of importance that the agitator arms are pivoted to thelower end of the shaft 12, since the agitator arms may be swung upwardly against the shaft 12, to permit the agitating mechanism to be passed readily through the opening 4 in the top of the tank.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a tank, a suction pipe extending downwardly therein, a tubular agitator shaft journaled upon the suction pipe and carried thereby, and an agitator carried by the shaft.

2. In a device of the character described, a tank, a suction pipe extending downwardly therein to the bottom thereof, a tubular agitator shaftjournaled upon and supported by the said pipe, and an agitator carried by the lower end ofthe said shaft and coperating with the bottom of the tank.

3. In a device of the character described, a tank having an inverted conical bottom, a suction pipe extending downwardly into the tank to the apex of the bottom, a tubular agitator shaft journaled upon and carried by the pipe, and an agitator carried by the lower end of the shaft and coperating with the conical bottom of the tank.

4. In a device of the character described, atank having an inverted conical bottom, a suction pipe extending downwardly into the tank to the apex of the bottom, a tubular agitator shaft journaled upon and carried by the pipe, and an agitator embodying an arm pivoted to the lower end of the shaft to swing to and from the shaft and to bear against the bottom of the tank.

5. In a device of the character described, a tank having an inverted conical bottom, a suction pipe extending downwardly into the tank and having its lower end seated upon the apical portion of the bottom and provided with an inlet a rotary tubular agitator shaft journaled upon the said pipe, a sleeve attached to the lower end of the shaft, a member carried by the lower end portion of the said pipe for supporting the said sleeve, and agitator arms pivoted to the said sleeve to swing to and from the shaft and to bear against the tank bottom.

G. In a device of the character described, a rotary agitator shaft, an agitator arm piv-v oted thereto to swing to and from the shaft, and a coiled scraper surrounding the arm and terminally secured thereto.

7. In a device of the 'character described, a tank, a rotary agitator shaft journaled therein, an agitator arm pivoted to the lower end of the shaft to swing to and from the said arm and terminally secured thereto and cbperating with the tank bottom.

8. In a device of the character described, a, tank having an inverted conical bottom, a

rotary agitator shaft journaled within tank and extending to the apical portion nl' the tank bottom, an agitator arm pivoted tf, the lower end of the shaft to swing` to a d from the shaft and to work above the tank bottom, and a coiled scraper' surroundi e; said arm and terminally secured thereto, tit, scraper bearing against the tank bottom.

9. In a device of the character described, a tank, a cap member therefor, a suction pipe extending downwardly through the said member into the tank, a tubular agi W tator shaft journaled upon the said pipe, a spur gear carried by the Said pipe, a spur gear carried by the said member and inter-- meshing with the aforesaid gear, the geara being located below the cap member, and actuating means extending throng-li the said member for rotating the second mentioned gear.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing aa my own, I have hereto ahxed my signature fill in the presence of two witnesses.

`fil/itnesses S. d. Tourneur, 'ICI-ino. i Torriignite 

